If you are currently suffering from high levels of work-related stress then you are not alone. About 1/2 million people in the UK describe feeling so stressed they feel it is making them ill.

The word ‘stress’ is often confused with ‘pressure’ even though they are very different. A certain amount of pressure can be good for us in that it motivates us to be productive and to stay focused. Stress, on the other hand, can be described as ‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them.’

All forms of work can be stressful, regardless of a person’s salary, the type of work they do, or position they hold but when work starts to get too much it can be very unhealthy and you might start to experience physical and psychological symptoms. In excess, stress can cause problems such as headaches, high blood pressure and depression. It is important to listen to your body so you can get help when you need it. Ignoring your body’s messages will only make you ill while exacerbating your work problems.

Bullying at work

Bullying at work can often be very subtle and therefore it can be quite hard to identify. The main forms of bullying at work include verbal abuse, gossiping, emotional manipulation and public humiliation. Being bullied at work can lead to feelings of self-doubt, low self-esteem, depression and sometimes suicidal thoughts.

Counselling

If work stress is starting to impact your personal life – causing sleep deprivation, dread, anxiety and bad habits like drinking, smoking, or overeating, then it may be useful to seek help. Counselling aims to get to the root of work-related stress. You may find yourself exploring other personal issues that you had not considered contributed to your overall feelings of stress. By increasing your awareness of how you think, feel and behave at work and at home, you will gain new insights that change the way you approach your work-life in the future and significantly reduce your levels of stress.